Ferron (born Debbie Foisy on June 2, 1952) is a Canadian folk singer/songwriter. In addition to being one of Canada's most famous folk musicians, she is one of the most influential writers and performers of lesbian music, and an important influence on later musicians such as Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls. Ferron is featured in the documentary Radical Harmonies2002. Her songwriting and poetry is mystically revelatory, nuanced, and sublime. She is highly admired as an artist of great integrity, wisdom, and giftedness.

She learned to play guitar at age 11, and left home at 15. She made her professional debut in 1974, playing the song "Who Loses" at a benefit for the Women's Press Gang. She subsequently established her own record label, Lucy Records, and released her debut album in 1977. The album Testimony was her first professionally produced record, and brought her much interest in the United States, particularly in the women's music community.

Her 1984 album Shadows on a Dime received a four-star review (highest rating) from Rolling Stone magazine. Awarded a Canada Arts Council grant, she took several years off from touring, returning in 1990 with Phantom Center. The album actually featured backing vocals by a then unheard of Tori Amos, and consequently is highly sought after by collectors. Ironically it was re-released with Amos' vocals removed from certain tracks, making original copies even more valuable.

Between 1992 and 1994, Ferron released three albums on her own Cherrywood Station label. Driver was then picked up by Earthbeat! Records, and was highly acclaimed by critics on both coasts as a masterwork and nominated for a Juno Award. Warner Bros. Records signed Ferron which gave her great freedom in the studio to produce Still Riot with db Benedictson. She received an Outmusic Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards in 1996.

Ferron continues to tour and teach master classes in writing, and in 2004 she returned to the very island where some of her earliest recorded songs were written to produce Turning Into Beautiful on her own Fair and Loving Music label.

Discography

• Ferron (1977)
• Ferron Backed Up (1978)
• Testimony (1980)
• Shadows on a Dime (1984)
• Phantom Center (1990)
• Not a Still Life (1992, live)
• Resting With the Question (1992)
• Driver (1994)
• Still Riot (1996)
• Inside Out (1999)
• Impressionistic (2002)
• Turning Into Beautiful (2005)

External Link

• Ferron